Becky Powell, a kindergarten teacher in Beaverton, Oregon, has found a lucrative side hustle creating digital worksheets for fellow educators. Spending an average of 10 hours per week on her side hustle, Powell brought in an impressive $125,500 last year through her online store on Teachers Pay Teachers. Her store, Sight Word Activities, features 427 different listings designed to help teach literacy to young students.
Powell’s success story began in 2015 when she first launched her side hustle. Within weeks, she was able to earn enough to cover her monthly car insurance bill, and after three months, she and her husband were able to pay off their monthly student loan payments. Powell attributes her success to her background as a kindergarten teacher, using her classroom as a research lab to develop worksheets that filled a niche on the Teachers Pay Teachers platform.
One key aspect of Powell’s side hustle is that it requires minimal upfront investment. Teachers Pay Teachers offers both free and paid tiers for sellers, with basic sellers keeping 55% of their sales and premium sellers keeping 80% after paying a $59.95 annual subscription fee. Powell and her husband both pay the subscription fee for their respective stores, with Jerome managing a store called Editable Activities that brought in an additional $51,800 last year.
When asked about the replicability of her side hustle, Powell believes that passion and market knowledge are essential. By researching the education market and understanding the needs of consumers, she was able to identify gaps in learning and create products that resonated with her target audience. Powell’s confidence as a first-time entrepreneur has grown through her success, allowing her to mentor friends and coworkers who are interested in starting their own Teachers Pay Teachers stores.
Powell’s advice for aspiring side hustlers is to find a niche within a niche. By focusing on a specific area where you can excel and providing unique value to customers, you can stand out in a crowded marketplace. Powell’s dedication to drilling down ideas and getting specific has been key to her success, proving that the riches truly are found in niches.
In conclusion, Becky Powell’s story is a testament to the power of passion, market knowledge, and perseverance in building a successful side hustle. By leveraging her expertise as a kindergarten teacher and honing in on a specific niche within the education market, Powell has been able to generate six figures in annual income. Her journey from a teacher with no entrepreneurial experience to a successful business owner is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with dedication and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone.
